Caster-locking device



Feb. 7, 1928. 1,658,273

0. B. WOODROW 'cAs'rER LOCKING mavxcs Filed Jan. 21, 1925 Patented Feb.7, 1928.

UNITED STATES OLIVER swoonnow, or nnw'ron, IOWA, Assienonro.woonnow"wAsHINe MA- 1, ss,273 i PATENT o F ce,

CHINE COMPANY, OFPELLA, IOWA, A GORPORATION OF IOWA.

GASTER-LOCKING DEVICE.

Application filed Jan-nary 21, 1925. SerialNo. 3,803.

the machine frame by reason of the oper-, ,ation of the washing machine,tends to cause the machine to move about on the floor or support, andthe users thereof now comw monly employ makeshift devlces forthe purposeof holding the casters against such movement. My object is to provide acaster support ing device of simple, durable and inexpenifi siveconstruction, that may be readily and easily attached to machines of theclass described, and when so, attached, the operator may convenientlyand easily, and by downward pressure only of the foot" upon a suitablelever, operate the device so that either the caster will be free. torotate in its normal manner, or be locked against movement either of thecaster Wheel .upon its own axis or of the caster about thecaster stem.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangementand combination oithe various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated areattained, as hereinafter more l fully set forth, pointed out in myclaim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: v

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a caster device embodying myinvention. V

Figure 2 shows a side elevation of same with parts broken away to showinternal construction.

Figure 3 showsa vertical sectionalview taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;and

Figure 4 shows a machine body having my improved caster devices appliedthereto as 1n use.

Referring to'the accompanying drawings, I have used the referencenumeral to in 4 dicate a machine body to be supported on casters, whichbody may be the body portion of a domestic washing machine. v on suchbody portions there is usually provided at the bottom thereof anannular, supporting bar 11 and there are usually provided cross braces12. I H

My improved caster devicecomprises a leg member indicated generally bythe reference numeral 13. At its top is a flange '14 which may be madesegmental in shape to and to which it may be secured by. bolts 1-5through the bolt openings 16. At the lower portion oi the leg is acircular downwardly extended flange 17, the lower edge of which,

is preferably inclined v downwardly andfoutfit against the interior oithe annular bar 11,

wardly and roundedas at 18, and. extending upwardly above the center ofsaidflange 1s a cylindrical opening 19. Thls opening extends upwardlyand communicates with a slot formed between the two lugs 21'and 22formed integral with said leg member.

The caster proper is of ordinary construcr; r r M011 and (,Olxr.:l1.c(-)S a caster wheel -25 and a stem 2e,'which stem 1s preierablyprov ded with a split springring 25 fixed to it and Emotionally engagingthe interior 0f the openingltl to prevent the "caster-stem from droppingout of the opening, but permitting it to moveupwardly and downwardly toa limited extent.

Mounted within theslot QO'is. a lever 26 preferably comprising asubstantially straight metal bar, pivotally mounted -at its center upona bolt 27 which extends through the-lugs 21- and 22 and also through thelever 26. At the lower central portionof the lever is a downwardlyextended curved cam 28 designed to engage the upper end of the casterstem 24-. This cam is-so shaped and proportioned that when the lever 26is in the position shown in Figure 3 by solid lines, the caster stem,will be held in its downward limit of movement, and when the lever ismoved to the position shown by dotted lines in said figure, then thecaster stem will be permitted to move upwardly within the opening 19until the lower end of the flange 17 will engage and rest upon the uppersurface of the caster wheel 23, as shown by dotted lines. During thismovement of the lever 26, the weight of the machine itself upon thecaster leg will be suliicient to move the caster body 13 downwardlyuntilsaid flange 17 is in engagement with the caster wheel, and when inthatposition. the lever 26 will be secured against,

further movement such aswould be caused by agitation of the machinebody. When the lever 26. is in the position shown by dotted lines in-Figure 3, and the operator desires to move the machine body, he simplypresses his foot downwardly upon the. up wardly extended end of thelever 26, thus moving the cam 28 into contact with the caster stem 19,and thereby elevating that portion of the machinebody whichrests uponthis particular caster until the.lever 26 has been moved to the positionshown by solid lines in Figure 3, whereupon the caster is firmly held inthe position shown in solid lines in Figure 3.

One of the important features of my improvement is that the caster. may.be manipulated to move the device from position wit-hthe: caster lockedto position with the i caster free to rotate, by downward pressureoft-he operators foot upon the lever, and it may also be moved in theopposite direction"bydownward movement of the operators foot, so thatthere is never at any time any necessity forv operating this leverzbywhand.

.lInpraetice I have found that in most incstances: it is only necessaryto have a single cone of the three or tour casters that supporter-devicesupplied with my improved locking; means, although in some instances .itmayigberdesirable to use two or more of 5.:my improved locking devices.

WVhen the lever has been moved by the coperators foot to position forpermitting the weightof the machine to bring the flange 17cintoengagement with the periphery of 30..the caster wheel, then obviouslythe caster wheel itself is prevented from rotation and furthermore,. thecaster is prevented from "'m0ve1nent-under sufiicient' pressure, andthis is of advantage r because the bottom surface .of the caster wheel,when considerable vibra- ,tion isapplied to the machine, movesslightcaster need only be very slight to be suiiii ;,c1ent.tosubstantially effect the level of the machine.

I claim as my invention:

Ina caster device, the combination with a raster ,wheel and stem, of abody portion in which the stenris mounted for rotary and longitudinalmovement, said body including an upwardly and outwardlyextendmg flangeportion, the upper-end of which terminates in a curved segmental portionn to support a washing machine frame, the lower end otsaid body portionternnnatmg in a downwardly extending and circular fian e ca sable ormovement from osition the waster-wheel to position spaced slightly aboveit, said body portion being provided with a slot, a lever devicepivotailymounted in saidslot, the pivot center ot-said lever beingperpendicular to the plane 01' :said curved segment, said lever havingits under edge provided with a'cam device to engage the upper end ofsaid stem, the ends of said lever extending beyond the said bodyportionin sucha manner that either end may be engaged by the opera-tors foot toactuate said cam for elevatingand lowering said circular flange into andout of engagement with the'caster wheel.

' I OLIVER B. YVOODROW.

